Chapter Seventeen
Liam pulled upshort, barely missing the trip stone as he entered the old kitchen. He wasn’t surprised when Clara hadn’t appeared to wave the hunting party off. With all the people gathered or going, it felt like a second fair day. Especially since his father had taken most of the food as provisions for his excursion. Clara had endured more than enough people yesterday. He expected her to be in his bedroom writing lists of things to do. Or hiding in a book because the task was too overwhelming.
But she wasn’t.
It was a surprise to him when he discovered Miss Rees’ room bare of luggage. And with Aaron equally absent, he feared that Clara had changed her mind and left while he was occupied with his father.
Which meant he tore about the empty castle looking in every corner for his bride while his gut clenched in fear. Without her money and her education, all his plans were for naught. He’d almost given up when he heard giggles coming from the old part of the castle. Finally! Someone who might know what had happened. He rushed there only to find his bride covered in foodstuffs with her hair askew and a fierce scowl on her face as she pounded her fists into dough.
She’d never looked more adorable.
“I do hope you’re not imagining anyone I know,” he drawled as he watched her punch with an awkward fist.
She looked up with a start then grinned. “I am actually. It’s quite fun.”
“Then, I hope it’s not me,” he drawled.
She frowned at him. “You look quite done up. Would you like some dinner?”
He straightened in surprise. “There’s food?”
“Of course!” She sounded very proud of herself for that. “People have been coming in for stew and bread. I’ve been meeting them.” As if on cue, a boy too young to be part of the hunting party slipped inside. He sidled over to the table where hot loaves of bread were cooling. “Davie!” she said with a smile. “Are you here for a third helping?”
The little boy looked up with huge eyes. His belly was distended from all he’d already eaten, but he still tried to stretch his hand up for another loaf of bread.
“Ack,” said a young woman as she waved her apron at him. “You’ve had plenty—” she began but Clara stopped her.
“He can eat if he’s hungry,” Clara said. “We have enough, don’t we?”
“There’s enough with the new bread,” said one of the two young women.
“But he’s not hungry,” said the other. “He’s giving it to them that are too cowardly to face you.”
Clara straightened up from the dough with a frown. “Do I really look that frightful?”
Trust Clara to look for the fault in herself before considering that his people were rude. “You look wonderful,” he said. Then he squatted down in front of Davie. “How brave you are to face the scary lady!” He tweaked the boy’s nose to make him smile. “Will you tell the others that there’s plenty of food, but they have to be as brave as you. They have to show themselves.”
The boy nodded and scampered off while the two young women exchanged looks that meant…something. He had no idea what and was too tired to it figure out. Now that relief at seeing Clara was washing through him, he felt every knot in his body begin to ache. He pulled out a stool and sat while Clara made a happy show of serving him a bowl of stew. It was hearty Scottish fare, and he tucked into it with relish. And he enjoyed the sight of Clara accidentally brushing flour across her temple and into her hair.
“Tell me what you’ve been doing today,” he said. “Other than making bread.”
“Well, that’s enough, don’t you think? It’s an exhausting process.” She punched a small fist into the dough.
“I’ll finish it, my lady. Have some dinner.”
Clara held up a finger. “No, no! I’m Davie right now. I still have questions.”
“Davie?” Liam asked. “Is that an English expression?”
“It should be. It means I know nothing right now, which means I can ask every question I want even if they’re stupid.”
She could ask any question she wanted anyway, but he could see that the two young women were playing along with good cheer. That meant something. Indeed, given that the castle was virtually devoid of servants, it meant a lot that Clara could charm these two.
“Well then, Davie,” Liam said. “Sit down and tell me about your day.”
Clara pulled out another stool and sat down with an audible sigh. “Thank you, Rhona,” she said as the girl began to knead the dough. “Rhona, Deirdre, and I have become good friends,” she said as she accepted a bowl of stew. “They’ve been telling me all about how things work here. I’m learning how to cook, then tomorrow, Deirdre is going to teach me how to sew.”
His brows rose. “That’s quite a lot for two days.”
